Although sterilization is extremely effective at preventing pregnancy, people should consult their healthcare providers and consider the other options available before choosing a permanent contraceptive.

Whether it's a condom, the pill, or an intrauterine device ( IUD), the majority of people have used some sort of birth control. In fact, between 2015 and 2017, 46.9 million people who identified as women used some sort of contraceptive, but most common form might surprise you.

According to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), sterilization is the top contraceptive method, with 18.6% of birth control users opting for it. The pill and IUD being the second and third most popular methods respectively.

According to the CDC, sterilization as a birth control method was most common among older women: 39.4% of women in the 40 to 49 age bracket chose sterilization. That said, it was still an option among younger groups, with 21.6% of women between the ages of 30 and 39 and 4.2% of women ages 20 to 29 choosing it as a contraceptive.

The data also found that sterilization as a birth control method decreased the more educated a person was, while birth control pill usage increased when education level increased.

Sterilization is permanent, so you should be counseled before going through with the procedure

Female sterilization can be performed two ways: through tubal ligation and tubal implant. Litigation involves what is commonly referred to as "tying a person's tubes" and involves cutting, sealing, and/or tying the fallopian tubes so sperm cannot reach and fertilize an egg.

For tubal implants, the result is the same, but the procedure involves inserting a spring-like coil into the fallopian tubes to create tissue scarring that blocks sperm. Although litigation is effective immediately, implants take longer to work because scarring must develop over time, according to the HHS.

There are other long-acting birth control methods that are not permanent

There are other birth control methods besides sterilization that are also highly effective, but not permanent. According to the CDC's report, long-acting reversible contraceptives, or LARCs, were the third most popular contraceptive method after sterilization and the birth control pill, with 35% of women between ages 15 and 49 choosing it.

The birth control implant is a long-lasting but non-permanent birth control method. Reuters/Erik de Castro

While sterilization is an extremely effective method for preventing pregnancy, people should consult their healthcare providers and consider the other options available (there are currently 17 in the United States) before choosing a permanent contraceptive.

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